And on the third day, it was time to rest. At least that’s the way it felt. We’d spent two days running around the parks (fast pass wears you out), so we had planned for a day around the condo just to “chill out.” I went swimming with the kids in the morning (waterbugs, both of them), and then planned to do some exploration in the afternoon (thanks mom and dad for the car). So with DRAFT magazine (http://draftmag.com/) recommending 3 locations in the Tampa area, I headed west.
My first stop was Taps Wine & Beer Merchants (http://www.tapswineandbeer.com/home.html), located in downtown Tampa right across from the Children’s Museum. Half the place was dedicated to wine and the other half to beer, with ~30 taps featuring local beers and classics. I ordered the smoky guacamole and chips (small portion but quite tasty) to accompany a Cigar City Maduro Oatmeal Brown Ale (a cross between a stout and ale that didn’t quite hit either mark). I followed it up with a Dunedin Red Ale, crisp and just with the right level of hops, and got a St. Somewhere Lectio Divina to go (a dark ale, but with a sour tang that wasn’t expected). The place was nice enough, and I could see it getting really crowded in the evening, but the barmaid was a whiner and didn’t know much about beer, so I can’t see how this could be considered one of the top places to have a beer in the country.
Next it was off to the World of Beer (http://wobwestchase.com/) (located in an upscale strip mall), which promoted itself as having a great tap selection as well as showcasing many bottled beers in a cooler the length of the wall. The taps were good, but not great, although I did find my favorite Mexican beer, Negra Modelo, on draft which I hadn’t had before. So I ordered a pint, and then cruised the cooler. For such a large selection, I didn’t find many that I hadn’t tried. I got several from The Brewery (Hottenroth, Mischief, and 2 Turtle Doves), a great brewery from CA that specializes in Belgian Ales, and then discussed the local beer scene with the staff. In contrast with Taps, they were friendly and knowledgeable. They were preparing for their Fat Tuesday celebration (beads and all), and they were REALLY interested in my beer book. When I noted that I was looking for unique draft beer, they recommended that I head over to Oldsmar Taphouse (kind of like Macy’s sending children to Gimbels). And since that was my next stop, I was on my way.
The Oldsmar Taphouse (http://oldsmartaphouse.com/) most closely reminded me to Mahar’s with a seasoned owner that really was passionate about getting new beers. He didn’t officially do samplers, but like Henry’s Tavern in Portland, OR he provided a 4 oz taste of each of the beers I hadn’t tried (which were quite a few). I started with a Moinette Unfiltered Lager, a top notch Belgian beer that I had never found before at Mahar’s or at the Belgian restaurants in Philadelphia. I guess my favorite beer was from my new favorite brewery, Brew Dog, a Scottish microbrewery that is specializing in extreme beers. It was their Paradox Isle of Arran, an imperial stout that was brewed once in Isle of Arran whiskey casks. I have had a couple of the Paradox beers (Smokehead, Springbank), but this was my first on draft. I had a nice chat with Tony, the owner, and he recommended the House of Beers in Kissimmee for more taps (great choice). He also only charged me for a pint after many samples, and I’d have to say this was my favorite “bar” in FL. Low key, beer knowledgeable, quiet, and a great selection. Please stop by if you are in the Tampa area.
It was again a quick trip (I made it back for dinner and a freezing game of mini-golf), and I missed several spots (Tampa Brewing, Cigar City Brewing, the Cock and Bull). But it was a good sanity break and I was able to mark off more destinations. I can’t wait for another opportunity to go back. - 5400"In heaven there is no beer, that’s why we drink it here! And when we’re gone from here, all our friends will be drinking all the beer!" – Hawkeye Victory March
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